Ross: Voters 'laughing' at O'Donnell

Despite a new poll showing the Delaware Senate primary in a dead heat, the state’s Republican Party chair maintains that insurgent Christine O’Donnell isn’t being taken seriously – and claims that most voters he encounters are “laughing” about her candidacy.

Chairman Tom Ross, who has been relentless in his evisceration of O'Donnell's personal and professional shortcomings, said he did not put much credence into the weekend Public Policy Polling survey showing the tea party darling taking a 3-point lead over Rep. Mike Castle, 47 percent to 44 percent.

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But he said the numbers could help sound the alarm bells and motivate Castle supporters who aren't taking O'Donnell seriously.

"I don't buy it, it's a Democratic poll, but it's all about turnout. There's a large segment of the population that is familiar with her antics, that she's kooky and they really don't have to worry about it," Ross said. "I think the good thing is that it might grab the casual voter laughing about her claims for the last two weeks. I walk into places and people start laughing, 'Oh are you hiding in the bushes?'" he said, referencing O’Donnell’s claim to The Weekly Standard that party operatives were trailing her home at night.

Another Delaware-based party operative said internal polling showed Castle leading O'Donnell by 7 points, a margin that still is much closer than many ever expected.

"The PPP poll is actually helping us, scaring the heck out of New Castle County Republicans," said the aide.

Party officials are estimating a turnout of about 30,000 Tuesday, and Castle is expected to spend a good portion of his final day of campaigning in population-heavy New Castle County, where he's hoping to build a large lead among moderates to offset any potential losses in the more conservative southern portion of the state.

O'Donnell's remaining campaign schedule is unknown. Several inquiries to a press aide and her campaign manager were not returned.

"I suppose they're probably keeping her hid away so she doesn't have to answer questions," said Ross.

Ross's sharp-tongue has won him the ire of the Tea Party Express, which has been traveling the First State for the past week and pledged to spend nearly $250,000 on O'Donnell's behalf.

Late Sunday, a top Tea Party Express leader called on Ross to resign within 24 hours "or face immediate termination ... for a complete lack of character or integrity."

"Can you imagine the mess Tom Ross will have created when he is Delaware Republican Party chairman on Tuesday night when Christine O'Donnell becomes the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate? It's unacceptable, and Tom Ross must quit or be fired immediately," said Tea Party Express Chairwoman Amy Kremer. "He is a walking disaster."

Characteristically, Ross hit right back.

"That's good because frankly, I'm not on the ballot. Last I checked, our party didn't have any provisions for people from Sacramento. If they'd like to become residents of the state of Delaware and vote on my chairmanship, they can go right ahead. Otherwise, they can take their out-of-state, hit-job machine and their circus to the next town," he said.

Ross said he was not ready to entertain the hypothetical of O’Donnell becoming the Republican Party’s nominee.

"We've got a nominee that we're proud of and who is not only going to win the primary, but go on and win the general election. If the voters of Delaware want to take back Joe Biden's Senate seat, they'll do their civic duty and vote tomorrow," he said.

A spokesman for Sen. Jim DeMint's Senate Conservatives Fund, which endorsed O'Donnell Friday, said it's unclear which candidate is ahead less than 24 hours before the polls open.

"The race is close but nobody really knows who's leading. That's why folks who want a senator who will stand up to President Obama's agenda need to keep fighting for Christine all the way 'til the end," said Senate Conservatives spokesman Matt Hoskins.

But another conservative leader, whose group has intervened in several contested primaries this cycle, said O’Donnell still hasn’t proved her viability.

“We’ve stayed out of that race because we’re not convinced that Christine O’Donnell can win,” Freedomworks CEO Matt Kibbe said Monday morning at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.